Segmented Water Purification Units for River Debris Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purification devices for rivers that extend continuously across the width obstruct water flow, causing flooding, hinder fish passage, and pose obstacles for shipping, requiring costly and high-maintenance locks for navigation.
Innovation Solution
A water purification system comprising multiple, obliquely aligned water purification units with overlapping ends that allow lateral flow, preventing blockages and enabling fish passage while allowing ships to navigate without the need for locks, utilizing bar rakes and rake cleaning devices to manage debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a water purification device extends continuously across the entire width of the watercourse, then it effectively removes debris from the water, but it blocks the flow of water and causes flooding on both sides of the river
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous water purification device is divided into multiple individual water purification units that are distributed across the width of the watercourse. Each unit operates independently and processes water locally, allowing water to flow between and around the units rather than being completely blocked. This segmentation maintains debris removal effectiveness while preventing water flow blockage and flooding.
2Productivity
If a water purification device extends continuously across the entire width of the watercourse, then it provides complete debris removal coverage, but it creates an insurmountable obstacle for shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The water purification system is segmented into discrete units with gaps between them, creating navigable channels for ships to pass through. The individual units are positioned and sized to provide adequate debris removal coverage while maintaining open waterways that do not obstruct shipping passage.
3Productivity
If a water purification device extends continuously across the entire width of the watercourse, then it achieves full width debris removal, but it prevents fish from passing through
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous barrier is segmented into separate water purification units with spaces between them. These gaps allow fish and other aquatic organisms to pass through the watercourse unimpeded while the individual units continue to remove debris from the water column and surface in their respective zones.
4Ease of operation
If locks are installed next to the water purification device to allow ship passage, then shipping can pass the device, but the installation and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The water purification device is designed as segmented units that inherently create navigation channels, eliminating the need for separate lock infrastructure. This integration of navigation functionality into the purification unit arrangement itself avoids the high installation and maintenance costs associated with traditional lock systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented water purification units serve dual functions: they remove debris from the water while simultaneously creating navigable channels for ships. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate navigation infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures unimpeded water flow, preserves fish passage, and facilitates cost-effective ship navigation without the need for expensive locks, while maintaining effective debris removal and operation with minimal infrastructure requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a direction of flow (4) of the watercourse (3)
Implementation Method 2
bar rake (17) with a rake cleaning device (25)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a water cleaning device (1) for a flowing body of water (3), which comprises two, three, four, five, six or more water cleaning units (2, 6), which are arranged one after another and at a distance (20) from one another in the flow direction (4), wherein one end of the one water cleaning unit (2) – in a plan view – is connected indirectly or directly to the one bank (5), and wherein one end (9) of the other water cleaning unit (6) – in plan view – is connected indirectly or directly to the other, opposite bank (7), and wherein the free ends (10, 11) of the water cleaning units (2, 6) that project in the direction of the flowing body of water (3) – in a plan view – overlap and engage behind one another in an overlap region (23) in relation to the flow direction (4), wherein the whole of the water cleaning device (1) – in a plan view – covers the full width (15) of the flowing body of water (3)